This spirited 19th-century oil painting by Swedish artist Victor Forssell (1846-1931) depicts a river landscape with cottages and figure.
Painted in 1873, this sublime piece typifies the majestic handling of a celebrated artist with the world at his feet. Forssell was just 27 and already recognised by his peers as a prodigy. In a letter to the artist Carl Larsson, AM Lindström proclaimed that he ‘had not yet seen any landscape here that could be compared to his.’
Amid this torrent of praise, Forrsell spent numerous summers working alongside his close friend Per Ekström (1844-1935). The duo lived in a gazebo near Sickla, Stockholm - maintaining a quiet, reclusive lifestyle, and it’s likely that he painted this view close to his Summer retreat.
There’s a sense of underlying joy to the shimmering tones and sinuous foliage, yet one also feels a sense of deliberate bravura - was Ekström peering over his shoulder? Or sitting nearby, sketching the foliage? Were the two competitive?
A few years later, Forssell travelled to Düsseldorf, Paris, Brussels, London and Antwerp. And by 1887, he’d been elected a full member of the Royal Swedish Academy.
Signed/dated lower right and held within a gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 21½” x 30½” / 55cm x 77cm
Year of creation: 1873
Condition: Artwork presents well. One professional repair. Craquelure but the paint is stable. The white mark in the bottom right is intentional as it extends under the green foliage. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £12,758
Swedish artist Victor Reinhold Forssell is predominantly known for his naturalistic plein-air views, which capture the gentle nuances of his homeland with careful observation. Studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, he was considered one of Sweden’s most promising landscape painters during his formative years. His works are held in several public collections.
Learn more about Victor Forssell in our directory.
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